Faith Fennelly was raised in a family of thrifters. But it wasn't until she discovered East London, with its plethora of secondhand shops and flocks of gutsy fashionistas, that she fell in love with vintage clothes.

"I felt constantly inspired by what other people were wearing," Fennelly, who lived in London for five years, said. "The East End style is something that influenced a lot of what I have."

Her favorite finds from the neighborhood include a caramel-colored fur coat by Steven Hockanum Fabric and a pair of high-waisted cream-tinted trousers by Laura Ashley. Her closet is filled with bright floral and polka dot dresses, many of them purchased from Fennelly's favorite sidewalk merchant at Inner London's bustling Camden Passage.

Any time she goes thrifting, Fennelly keeps an eye out for fur, flowy dresses and garments from the 1940s and '50s. Clothes from that era tend to suit her body type, she said.

"It reminds me of my grandma's style," she added. "I love the elegance, the femininity of those clothes."

Pocketbook issues also prompted Fennelly's embrace of used clothing; in London, she was a student on a limited budget, so it didn't make sense to "spend so much money on new outfits," she said.

Fennelly also appreciates the fact that some thrift stores, such as Oxfam, put some or all of their proceeds toward charitable causes.

"My whole career is dedicated to working in the nonprofit industry," Fennelly, who works for Newman's Own Foundation in Westport, said.

Now that she's back in Connecticut, the 27-year-old Bridgeport resident has been on the hunt for new secondhand haunts. As of now, her go-to establishments are the Stratford Antique Center, Seymour Antiques and Fashionista Vintage and Variety in New Haven. Those stores have yielded myriad treasures, including a pair of lace-up brown leather ankle boots and a one-piece floral romper that, coupled with a pair of tights, makes for a fun and fashionable summer outfit.

Fennelly may not be in modish East London anymore, but that won't stop her from "maintaining my own individual style.

"It's a big part of how I express myself," she said. "It's important for me to feel good about what I'm wearing and that I feel unique. I hope I continue that way throughout my life, even as I get older."